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A Newark police officer was shot in the leg during a dramatic confrontation with an armed robber inside a convenience store Wednesday afternoon, officials and witnesses say. Michael George reports (Published Thursday, July 31, 2014)

A Newark police officer was shot in the leg during a dramatic confrontation with an armed robber inside a convenience store Wednesday afternoon, officials and witnesses say.

Employees at the bodega near Clinton Avenue and Stratford Place said the suspect entered the store at about 3 p.m., ordered everyone to get on the floor and demanded money.

One employee, James Harris, ran out, locked the suspect inside the store and flagged down a police officer passing by. That appeared to set the gunman off, according to Harris.

"He was coming towards the door, pointing the gun at the door at me, but he didn't know the officer was right there," said Harris. "So I stepped to the side and the officer stepped in front and told him to drop the gun."